MFD Faceoff: Xerox vs. Hewlett-Packard
Written: Sep 28 '00 (Updated Sep 29 '00)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Great price for a flatbed laser
Cons: Photo reproduction is not as crisp as HP
|
|
|
| Bonies7's Full Review: Xerox WorkCentre™ XE90FX Laser Printer |
In today's work environment, the distinction between office and home is becoming more and more blurred. You probably find yourself doing a fair amount of "office work" at your private residence, and you've probably wandered the aisles at OfficeMax and considered purchasing a multi-function device (MFD) at some point recently.
But as you stand there in the aisle, it is relatively difficult to make an informed decision. The sales clerks are normally extremely young, and when asked a question, they too often will simply read the small "features and benefits" shelf tag out loud to you. The one that you've already read yourself, and the one that prompted you to ask a question that the tag did not answer.
Sound familiar?
So, if you're thinking about shelling out $500 or more, you probably don't want to make a snap decision. If you have the time, you'll go online and try to visit the manufacturer's web site. In the case of both Xerox and Hewlett-Packard, you'll find pages and pages of details on which products contain which features. Helpful, for sure, but they don't really answer your most pressing question about actual usage.
"How does this unit REALLY work in a home or small office?"
Having recently purchased two distinctly different units for home use, it only makes sense to share this user's experience with you. The units? The Xerox XE90fx MFD and the Hewlett-Packard G85 MFD. The Xerox system cost $600 and the HP rang in at $800.
Why two? Well, my partner in our consulting firm needed one to supplement the office at his home, and I needed one for my place. He wanted a laser printer, and I wanted a color copier. Both of us needed the multi-function capabilities because of space considerations. Although these days you can buy a scanner, fax machine, printer and copier separately for less than one of these units, the true decision point is simply one of space. Who has room for all those separate pieces?
So, after three months of regular operation, and a chance to use both units on many occasions, what's the verdict?
The Xerox machine is a heck of a machine for the price.
It does all its functions effortlessly. It has a flatbed document style (just like the HP) that we considered a "must have" versus a "feeder style" that cheaper units employ. Its print/copy speed of 8 pages of text a minute is terrific, and the print quality for that text is superb. 600x600 dpi, for those of you who like to keep score. Alas, no color, but how many business documents really require that? And the text of a laser printer is superior to the HP inkjet text. Not dramatically, but enough that the naked eye can tell the difference. The winner for black and white copies and text? Xerox.
Fax capabilities? Both Xerox and HP machines appear to receive faxes with ease, and the transmission speed on both is in the 6 to 8 seconds per page range. Both offer speed dials of frequently dialed numbers, and each has a memory capacity that holds over 100 pages of incoming text. The winner? A virtual tie, with no apparent edge to either unit.
Scanning? Well, the Xerox unit can produce quality scanned photos just fine when connected to any modern computer. But the end product is not as crisp as the end product produced by the HP. The HP has some proprietary software that produces startlingly clear photo images, and the Xerox can't match that output. Will it work for you? Absolutely, and without a side by side comparison with the HP, the typical user would be more than satisfied. But if you plan to do a lot of photo scanning, the Hewlett-Packard is the better choice.
Connectivity? You can use either a parallel printer cable, or a USB connection with both the Xerox and the HP. The USB port option is quicker, but it will tie up the USB port on your computer - a definite consideration if you're using a laptop with only one port. But remember, you'll be connected to a multi-function machine which prints, scans, faxes and copies. Not many other things will need to be connected to your computer, except perhaps a digital camera. We've had no problem using either connect option, and again the Xerox and HP are tied here for ease of use.
Setup? Easy. The out of box experience was quite similar for each unit. Less than ten minutes from opening the box to up and running. Easy to understand setup documentation, and both come with a user's manual that explains in detail all of the various options that a consumer can use. And yes - both come supplied with laser/inkjet print cartridges - but the Xerox contained a bit of a surprise. The Xerox comes with a "starter" laser cartridge - not a standard size cartridge. And the standard cartridge, which you'll need to acquire in a relatively short time, costs near $100.
Nevertheless, the price versus value equation tilts toward Xerox. The unit costs $200 less initially, and laser print costs are about half of what HP inkjet print costs run. Yet, the HP does offer color printing, and superb photo reproduction.
The winner?
Your call.
Because it ultimately depends on how you intend to use the unit. I give my HP five stars for what it does for me, and my partner gives his Xerox five stars for what it does for him. Neither of us wants to swap units, although he does smile when I show him the latest photo print output from the HP.
Either one is a victor across the board versus other competitors - primarily Brother and Canon. Better print quality and durability are two main reasons.
And either one of these will do a superb job for your home or small office.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
Bonies7
|
 - Top 500 |
|
Member: Jeff Clow
Location: The Lone Star State
Reviews written: 132
Trusted by: 1018 members
About Me:
Father, Husband, Consultant, Photographer, Writer, Conservative, Inquisitive, Texan
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.